A guest article by David Cantor of Cantor Divorce Lawyers in Phoenix, AZ

If you are going through a divorce in Arizona with children, you may be at a loss of what to do. Children are often affected by divorce much differently than the parents who are divorcing. Although the children will probably feel an immense amount of pain, there are some things that parents can do to help them be able to cope with the pain of the entire situation.

One thing that you can do when dealing with a divorce is to learn what you should say to your children and how you should say it. One thing to always remember is to tell your children the truth. While the children probably don’t need to know all the details of the “why” of the divorce, they do need to know the real reason for the divorce. For example, if you don’t get along anymore due to infidelity, they probably only need to know that you are not getting along anymore. Something else that you might want to be sure your children understand is that both parents still love them. They need to know that the divorce isn’t between the children and the parents, and that both parents will still support, love, and care for the children, just like before. When talking about divorce children, parents should try to stay as united as possible. While there might be some underlying pain and unanswered questions, the children need to know that both parents want what is best for them. The divorcing parents will probably need to come up with a plan or agreement dealing with the children, and the children should know about it so that they have something solid to hold on to. While you might feel that your spouse mistreated you, they are still the children’s parent and you should always be respectful when you talk about your spouse with your children.

Another thing that you can do when dealing with divorce that involves children is to try to create as stable an environment as possible. Children are typically pretty flexible, but with their entire world being torn apart, they will need something to hold on to. Creating some regular routines at each parent’s house is a good idea to help the children feel comfortable and safe.

Many people focus all of their time on the children when they are going through a divorce in Arizona with children. While it is important to take care of your children, you cannot always properly do that if you don’t take care of yourself first. Your kids can learn a lot when they see you taking care of yourself so that you can take care of them as well. Not only will they learn to take care of themselves as well, but they will probably have a happier, more content parent to deal with.